Rules / Character Creation / Ability Scores & Genetics

Ability Scores & Genetics

Ability Scores

Base ability scores. All six ability scores start at 0. Apply your genetic modifiers (below), then your origin's +1. Finally, spend 8 points to raise your scores; no score can go above 4 at 1st level. (See Playing the Game for what each score means.)

Genetic Modifiers

Roll 2d8 on the table below: the row gives the two ability scores that gain +1. Then roll 1d4 on the same row for the score that takes −1.

Extreme attributes. You may lower your negative genetic modifier to −2; in return, one of your two positive genetic modifiers becomes +2.

2d8	First +1	Second +1	−1 on 1	−1 on 2	−1 on 3	−1 on 4
2	Might	Reflex	Fortitude	Intellect	Perception	Charisma
3	Might	Fortitude	Reflex	Intellect	Perception	Charisma
4	Might	Intellect	Reflex	Fortitude	Perception	Charisma
5	Might	Perception	Reflex	Fortitude	Intellect	Charisma
6	Might	Charisma	Reflex	Fortitude	Intellect	Perception
7	Reflex	Fortitude	Might	Intellect	Perception	Charisma
8	Reflex	Intellect	Might	Fortitude	Perception	Charisma
9	Reflex	Perception	Might	Fortitude	Intellect	Charisma
10	Reflex	Charisma	Might	Fortitude	Intellect	Perception
11	Fortitude	Intellect	Might	Reflex	Charisma	Perception
12	Fortitude	Perception	Might	Reflex	Charisma	Intellect
13	Fortitude	Charisma	Might	Reflex	Perception	Intellect
14	Intellect	Perception	Might	Reflex	Charisma	Fortitude
15	Intellect	Charisma	Might	Reflex	Perception	Fortitude
16	Perception	Charisma	Might	Reflex	Intellect	Fortitude

Genetic Talents

Since the Awakening, everyone, whatever their lineage, is born with erratic, unpredictable mutations or abilities. Choose or roll two Genetic Talents (d100) that you were born with. Each is an item in the Genetic Talents, Drawbacks & Cosmetics compendium.

d100	Talent	Effect
1–4	Small Stature	1 Advantage on Stealth and on checks to escape a grapple, and 1 Advantage on attacks against larger creatures while an ally is within 5 ft.
5–8	Large Stature	Count as one size larger for your Bulk limit, unarmed damage and weapon size limit.
9–12	Claws	Natural slashing attack: 1d4 Small, 1d6 Medium, 1d8 Large.
13–16	Bite Attack	Natural piercing attack: 1d4 Small, 1d6 Medium, 1d8 Large.
17–20	Spike Tail	Natural piercing or bludgeoning attack (choose): 1d6 Small, 1d8 Medium, 1d10 Large.
21–24	Prehensile Tail	A tail that can hold and manipulate simple objects and let you hang indefinitely. It can't attack, fire weapons or do fine work.
25–28	Thermal Vision	A second pupil sees heat in grayscale. Switching pupils takes an action.
29–32	Horns	Gore natural attack, piercing or bludgeoning (choose): 1d8 Small, 1d10 Medium, 1d12 Large.
33–36	Swim Speed	Swim Speed equal to your Speed.
37–40	Wings	With both arms free, slow falls to 10 ft/round. Level 5: glide 15 ft horizontally per round. Level 9: fly Speed equal to Speed (Average maneuverability). Level 13: Perfect maneuverability and hover (still spending an action to hold altitude).
41–44	Burrow Speed	Burrow through soft soil, sand or gravel at your Speed.
45–48	Climb Speed	Climb Speed equal to your Speed.
49–52	Gills	You can breathe underwater.
53–56	Dermal Plating	Interlocking plates add your Fortitude score to your Soak.
57–60	Lucky	When you spend a Fate Die to add to or subtract from an effect roll (damage, healing, or damage you take), roll the Fate Die with Fortune: roll it twice and use the better result.
61–64	Big Brained	Gain 1 rank in each of 2 skills of your choice.
65–68	Chameleon Skin	Shift your skin to match your surroundings: 1 Advantage on Stealth (+1 at levels 5, 9, 13 and 17) while most of your skin is exposed, and you may attempt Stealth even while observed.
69–72	Venomous	Secrete a poison with Potency of half your Fortitude + your level. Type d6: 1 Hemotoxin, 2 Neurotoxin, 3 Necrotoxin, 4 Caustic, 5 Paralytic, 6 Irritant. Vector 2d6: 2–6 ingested, 7–11 contact, 12 inhaled.
73–76	Magic Talent	Learn one Complexity 1 spell, and gain 1 rank in Mysticism.
77–80	Leaper	Jump twice as far and high.
81–84	Fast Healer	You recover twice as many HP from all healing.
85–88	Scent	Detect a familiar smell within 5 ft (+5 ft at levels 5, 9, 13 and 17). Finding its direction and distance takes a Perception check.
89–92	Affliction Resistance	1 Advantage on checks against disease, poison, curses and radiation (+1 at levels 5, 9, 13 and 17).
93–96	Echolocation	Sense size, shape and location by sound instead of sight (no color).
97–100	Magic Resistance	1 Advantage on checks to resist magic (+1 at levels 5, 9, 13 and 17).

Big Brained and Magic Talent each give 1 rank. Venomous poisons use the poison afflictions in Exploration. Affliction Resistance and Magic Resistance improve at levels 5, 9, 13 and 17, like the other scaling talents.

Cosmetic Customizations

Besides your Genetic Talents, you may take up to 3 cosmetic deformities. They give no mechanical benefit; they're purely for flavor. For a random character, roll 1d4 − 1 times on the d10 table.

d10	Feature	Description
1	Extra Digits	Extra functional fingers and toes.
2	Fins	Decorative fins on your head, back or limbs.
3	Forked Tongue	A snake-like forked tongue.
4	Horns	Small blunt nubs, too small to use as weapons.
5	Scaly Skin	Thick scaled skin, in patches or all over.
6	Thin Fur Coat	A thin coat of dark fur.
7	Unnatural Eyes	Solid black, glowing or otherwise strange eyes.
8	Unnatural Hair	Oddly colored, patterned or luminous hair that may shift with mood.
9	Unnatural Skin	An unnatural or shimmering skin hue.
10	Unnatural Voice	A voice wildly at odds with your size and look.

Genetic Drawbacks

Every character starts with 2 Genetic Talents and up to 3 Cosmetic Features. You may also accept up to 2 Genetic Drawbacks in exchange for an equal number of extra Genetic Talents, trading a flaw for a strength one for one. Choose drawbacks from the list, or roll 3d6. You can never take the same drawback twice.

3d6	Drawback	Effect
3	Blood Hunger	Your maximum Strain drops by 1 for every full 24 hours without feeding on a living creature's blood. Feeding (1 AP, MANIPULATE): an unarmed strike against a creature you or an ally is grappling. On a hit, if you have a bite or it has an open wound, deal unarmed damage and roll 1d6 for blood loss: the target becomes Bloodless by that amount (see Conditions) and you restore that much maximum Strain.
4	Combat Fear	The first time each encounter that you roll initiative or take damage, make a Charisma save vs DC 10 + the encounter level; on a failure lose 1d6 Strain.
5	Ultraviolet Allergy	In direct sunlight or strong UV, take 1d6 fire damage at the start of each turn, and light flammable clothing may ignite.
6	Ability Decay	Permanently reduce one ability score by 1 (minimum 0).
7	Brittle Bones	1 Disadvantage on Reflex saves against falling, and +1d6 falling damage.
8	Sound Sensitivity	1 Disadvantage on all checks while exposed to sound louder than normal speech.
9	Light Sensitivity	Going from dim or darker into normal or brighter light Blinds you until the end of your next turn. 1 Disadvantage on sight-based Perception in bright light.
10	Weak Immune System	1 Disadvantage on Fortitude saves against poison and disease.
11	Reduced Speed	−5 ft to all your Speeds.
12	Frailty	Treat your Fortitude as 2 lower when calculating maximum HP and Strain (not for saves).
13	Heat/Cold Susceptibility	1 Disadvantage on Fortitude saves against extreme heat or cold.
14	Pheromone Repulsion	1 Disadvantage on Diplomacy and Nature checks against creatures within 30 ft.
15	Lethargy	1 Disadvantage on Reflex saves.
16	Mindslave	1 Disadvantage on Charisma saves against MENTAL effects.
17	Thin Skin	Roll flat checks to resist Light or Heavy Wounds with Misfortune.
18	Festering Sores	Worn armor's check penalty increases by 1 and always applies, even if you meet its Might requirement.

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